Course Descriptions

EDU 501 Current Trends in Education

3 credits Introduction to graduate studies through a study of political, social, and economic forces that currently shape American education. Attention is given to educational history, reform and renewal, the role of the teacher, the challenges of diverse populations, family structures, technology, legal considerations, pressure to reform education and professionalism in teaching. This course must be taken at ODU; transfer credit will not be accepted for this course. Core course.

EDU 502 Technology Leadership

3 credits This course explores the philosophical underpinnings of leadership perspectives that affect the successful application of instructional media and technology in the classroom. Students will study the integration of technology into educational settings, including creating and communicating common goals and understanding the nature of change in an information-rich society. Topics include exploration of expectations for technology leaders within current models, supervision, evaluation, effective policy decisions and implementation of reform.

EDU 505 Technology and Learning

3 credits This course is designed to investigate the issues, concepts, and philosophical considerations behind uses of technology in education. Emphasis will be on integrating appropriate technology as tools for teaching and learning as well as on developing new teaching strategies, and resources in alignment with local and national standards. Prerequisite: Basic proficiency in word processing, database management, presentation tools and spreadsheet concepts.

EDU 511 Curriculum and Instruction

3 credits The focus of this course is on exploring access, instruction, and curriculum development with regard to past, present and future strategies. Emphasis is placed on integrating theoretical and practical dimensions. Multiple conceptual frameworks for developing curriculum and reflective inquiry will be investigated. Core course.

EDU 515 Assessment Practices

3 credits This course is designed to aid the educator in interpreting and utilizing assessment data as applied in educational settings. Formal assessment and informal assessment will be studied. Emphasis is placed on how to assess within the classroom, how to apply assessment results to teaching, and how to use published research to improve student learning. Core course.

EDU 533 Professional Ethics, Law, and Teaching

3 credits This course provides an overview of the emergence of and justification for ethical issues in education. The course will compare and contrast the professional ethics of educators and other professions, begin to develop skills for thinking and writing critically about ethical claims related to the education profession, and encourage the students to think about how to maintain an ethical educational career and life. Core course.

EDU 535 Developing a Deeper Understanding of Leadership

3 credits This course will offer Teachers Leaders in public and private schools the opportunity to examine their own leadership styles and beliefs, while learning more about leadership in general, and school leadership, specifically.

EDU 536 Collaboration: Leading and Facilitating Teacher Development

3 credits This course will aid in the understanding and knowledge of how one can use collaboration and facilitation skills with groups. This includes facilitation skills, consensus building and teambuilding strategies along with problem-solving skills that work in school settings. Prerequisite: EDU 535.

EDU 537 Coaching and Mentoring for Improved Results

3 credits This course will focus on developing the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for Teacher Leaders to provide high levels of effective coaching and mentoring focused on improving teaching practices and learning for all students. Prerequisite: EDU 536. .

EDU 546 Instructional Decision-Making

3 credits This course provides opportunity to assess instructional models used in the classroom. Students will evaluate instructional methods and resources to enhance instructional decision-making. Topics include integration of content areas with new curricular materials and resources, development of new teaching strategies for emerging curricular models, and development of instructional procedures for students such as grouping strategies, learning outcomes and implications for diverse populations.

EDU 560 Research Methods in Education

3 credits This course will focus on basic types of research conducted in education, including both quantitative and qualitative, as well as procedures for analyzing data for each type of research. Students will be able to identify and understand good research and to develop action research to move theory to practice. Prerequisite: EDU 515 or permission of instructor. Not open to students with credit in EDU 561.

EDU 565 Addressing Diversity in the Classroom

3 credits This course will focus on current issues related to all types of diversity in P-12 classrooms: educational exceptionalities, including giftedness, linguistic, cultural, ethnic, and economic diversity, and best practices to provide appropriate education to diverse learners.

EDU 566 Teaching Mathematics and Science in the Intermediate Grades

3 credits The purpose of this course is to familiarize teachers with mathematics and science curricula for children in the intermediate grades (4-5) and with instructional techniques appropriate for the delivery of the curricula. Course content is closely aligned with recommendations of authorities and national organizations, with a solid foundation in the Ohio Academic Content Standards for Mathematics and Science. The course is designed to extend the teacher‘s understanding of mathematics and science content and methodology so that mathematics and science instruction is seen in terms of active children, making appropriate use of technology in learning mathematics and science as relevant and coherent bodies of knowledge that relate to diverse cultures.

EDU 584 Seminar in Teaching and Learning

3 credits This course will be a topical seminar focused on current trends in teaching and learning, and will involve initial development and design of the Professional Teaching Portfolio. Prerequisite: Completion of Core Courses.

EDU 596 Theory into Practice

3 credits This field experience may be completed in the candidate‘s school, but requires one day of observation in another school with a student body demographically different from the candidate‘s school. Individualized assignments related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and diversity will allow the candidate to demonstrate knowledge and skill in content areas and pedagogy. Prerequisite or co-requisite: EDU 511, 515, and 546. Not open to students with credit in EDU 597.

EDU 625 Portfolio Development

3 credits This course will guide candidates in the development of their professional portfolio. The portfolio is a performance based assessment designed to evaluate the complex knowledge, skills, and dispositions of teaching described in the program standards. Prerequisite: EDU 584.